The Minister of State
for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, has commended Cross River State for keeping the vision and aspirations of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Prof. Anwukah gave the recommendation when he led stakeholders in the sector on a courtesy visit to the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, in Calabar.
According to him, “your State has very much keyed into our goals in this direction. Your vision for basic education in this country is wonderful and we are going to task you on that, as I have immediately drafted the Executive Secretary of UBEC to be part of your vision and direction. “
Commending the state for volunteering to host UBEC 15th Quarterly meeting when the other state assigned to host defaulted, Prof. Anwukah stated that, the meeting was to enable stakeholders rub minds and fashion a way forward in the operations of UBEC, and SUBEBs in various states in order to give new life and direction to our basic education in this country.
Admitting that the education sector had had problems in the past, he explained that, “The Federal Ministry of Education through the agency of UBEC has accepted the challenge to put in the right direction our basic education system in the country.”
Responding, the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade stated that, the decision to host UBEC 15th Quarterly meeting despite the challenges and dwindling economy of the state, was a result of the State Government’s commitment in ensuring a functional basic education system in the country.
“This partnership we are having today should create a new vista of opportunities where people will look beyond the political contracts that come with UBEC funds, to actually design an academic programme, design a basic education programme that would create a new direction, a new future for the prosperity of Nigeria.”
Prof. Ayade decried a situation where UBEC funds were allegedly “reduced to political patronage and basic day to day survival,” stressing that any accumulation of materialism that has no reflection of the moral integrity of source fails.”
Governor Ayade enjoined Nigerians to have faith in the country and in President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that “things are tough now, but they will definitely get better, because the journey for the reconstruction is torturous, but certainly we have a man who knows where he is going, he is changing the image of Nigeria gradually and we are getting there.”
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar